Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastener for connecting two parts is provided. The fastener includes two main elements, namely a first element having a series of teeth and a second element having a series of hooks connected to one another in a moveable manner which cooperate with the teeth. The teeth and the hooks are shaped such that they mesh freely in a consecutive manner via a rolling-down movement of the second element only. The shape of the teeth and hooks is further such that the meshing may only be undone via a rolling-up movement, that is, a rolling movement in the opposite sense.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a fastener for connecting two or moreparts to one another.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such fasteners in general are already known.

A first known type of fastener consists of what is called azip-fastener, which in general consists of two rows of identicalelements. Each row is attached to a part to be connected.

With this zip-fastener, the two rows of elements must be preciselypositioned in relation to one another on one end thereof. They also mustbe caught by an appropriate coupling piece, after which the elements aredrawn towards one another by a pusher which connects them one after theother by meshing.

Such a zip-fastener is particularly suitable for connecting two piecesof material, for example textile. It offers the advantage that theconnecting force is distributed over a large number of points resultingin a large tensile strength. It is also advantageous in that it may beclosed or undone partly or in full, as required.

In spite of these advantages, such a zip-fastener also has severaldisadvantages.

A first disadvantage of this known zip-fastener is that the beginningand the end of the fastener are determined by the coupling piece and thepusher.

Further, the tensile strength of the zip-fastener may only be used inthe plane of the elements. Shear load must be avoided by using flexibleconnections between the elements.

Another disadvantage of the zip-fastener is that it becomesunserviceable when an element thereof, the coupling piece or the pusheris damaged.

Another known type of fastener consists of what is called an adhesivefastener which is made of two main parts, namely a first part which mayconsist of female elements and a second part which may consist of maleelements which work in conjunction with one another. The connection ishereby made by pressing both parts together, so that the respectiveelements mesh. The connection is undone by peeling off one of the partsin relation to the other.

Such an adhesive fastener is advantageous in that the positioning ofboth parts in relation to one another is not very critical, as the partsto be connected may be placed opposite one another at random.

Other advantages of such an adhesive fastener are that the shearingforce is distributed over multiple elements, so that relatively largeshearing forces are possible, that the manipulation thereof is very easyand that no auxiliary parts are required, as is the case with azip-fastener.

However, such an adhesive fastener is disadvantageous in that thestrength of the connection made by it depends on the number of elementscoupled to one another.

Another disadvantage of such an adhesive fastener is that only shearingforces may be opposed in the connection plane.

Another disadvantage is that the connecting force decreases fromfrequent use and/or when the connecting planes become dirty.

Finally, the opening of such an adhesive fastener is accompanied by anoise which is generally unpleasant.

Fasteners are known from the documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,162,FR-A-1,176,188 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,907 for connecting two parts toone another, whereby the fasteners consist of two main parts which maymesh thanks to a snap-effect between elements, whereby certain elementsare elastically deformed. Such fasteners have several disadvantages. Forexample, a force must be exerted to mesh the elements together and todisconnect them, respectively. As the meshing parts are deformed duringmeshing and disconnecting, they are subject to wear and tear, which hasa disadvantageous effect on the fastener after a length of time. Toobtain the snap effect, the elements must be made of an elastic,deformable material. Also, the range of material of which the fastenermay be made is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims towards a fastener which combines theadvantages of the known fasteners and which simultaneously offers asolution to the disadvantages of these known fasteners.

To this aim, the invention comprises a fastener for connecting twoparts, whereby this fastener comprises two main elements, namely a firstelement including at least two teeth and a second element including atleast two hooks connected to one another in a moveable manner whichcooperate with the teeth. The teeth and hooks are shaped such that theymesh freely in a consecutive manner via a rolling-down movement of thesecond element only, i.e., without a snap-effect or any noticeablesnap-effect that must be overcome. The shape of the teeth and hooks isfurther such that the meshing may only be undone by a rolling-upmovement, a rolling movement in the opposite sense.

In this manner, a fastener which mainly has the following advantages isobtained.

The position of both parts to be connected may be altered in relation toone another.

The fastener may take large tensile, pressure, and shearing forces.

Both elements of the fastener may be easily and very cheaply made in anindustrial manner by die-casting, extrusion or the like.

The fastener may be used both for applications whereby it overlaps, suchas with an adhesive fastener, as well as or applications whereby itoperates sideways, analogously to a zip-fastener.

The fastener remains usable when a segment thereof is damaged.

The fastener may be made such that its functioning is practicallyunaffected by dirtiness.

Both rigid and flexible parts may be connected to one another by thisfastener.

It is clear that the fastener according to the invention may be usedboth as an alternative for the known zip-fastener and adhesive fastener.Such a fastener may also be used in various other applications for whichit is not customary to use a zip-fastener or adhesive fastener, such asbelt fastenings, watchstraps, shoe-buckles, laces, fastening mechanismfor suitcases which are adjustable in height, carrier bags and handbags,removable labels or wall fixings, locking chains or laths to preventburglary, adhesive shoe soles for astronauts, coupling mechanisms forskis, universal locks and connections which must be able to resist varylarge forces, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of a fastener according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the part which is represented in FIG. 1 byarrow F2 to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 shows a view in perspective of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a view in perspective of a third embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As represented in FIG. 1, a fastener 1, designed to connect two parts 2and 3 to one another, according to the invention comprises a firstelement 4 having a series of teeth 5 which are held in a support 6 and asecond element 7 having a series of hooks 8 connected to one another ina moveable manner which cooperate with teeth 5.

Teeth 5 and hooks 8 are shaped such that they mesh via a rolling-downmovement of second element 7, whereby hooks 8 freely slide between teeth5 via a rotational movement, that is, by a limited arcuate motion ofhooks 8 relative to each other.

In particular, hooks 8 are made such that every two consecutive hooks 8enclose an intermediate tooth 5 over more than 180° when fastener 1 isclosed.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, teeth 5 are formed of parallelrods, for example with a circular section, which are fixed betweensupport 6 at their ends. To this end, support 6 comprises two parallel,strip-shaped parts 9 and 10, respectively, extending in a longitudinaldirection.

Hooks 8 are part of a series of links 11 which are consecutivelyconnected to one another by a series of pivoting hinges 12.

Links 11, the precise shape of which is represented to a large scale inFIG. 2, each show two hinge points 13 and 14, with the exception of alast link in the series at a free end of second element 7, which onlyhas one hinge point 13. Hook 8 belonging to link 11 concerned issituated sideways of, or in this case under, a connecting line betweenhinge points 13 and 14. Hook 8 hereby has a circular recess 15 on oneside which extends over an angle of less than 180°, and a concave,cylinder-shaped part 16 on the other side which runs into a convex part17 towards a free end of hook 8.

It is clear that the pitch of links 11 is equal to the pitch with whichteeth 5 follow one another.

The thickness of hooks 8 is such that they fit precisely between teeth5.

A width B of links 11 is preferably equal to or slightly smaller than adistance D between strip-shaped parts 9 and 10. However, it is notexcluded to select width B considerably smaller than distance D.

Fastener 1 will preferably be further provided with an end lockingmechanism which is meant to keep the last link in a locked position.This mechanism may be of any nature whatsoever and may for examplecomprise a slidable element which is slid over the last link or ofelastic element which forces the last link in a stretched condition inrelation to a second-to-last link.

In FIG. 1, elements 4 and 7 are fixed in the prolongation of parts 2 and3, which in this case comprise a band, belt or the like, or they areintegrally formed with parts 2 and 3. However, it is clear that thefastening may differ depending on the application. If, for example, twolayers of a material are to be attached to one another, it is notexcluded to attach first element 4 with its bottom side on a top side ofthe first layer and to attach second element 7 with its top side againsta bottom side of the second layer.

To realize a connection with fastener 1, second element 7 is firsthooked with a first link behind an optional first tooth. The remaininglinks 11 are subsequently hooked with hooks 8 behind the following teeth5 via a roll-down movement. Each consecutive link hereby locks thepreceding link. The last link is locked by the above-mentioned lockingmechanism which is not represented in the figures. The connection isundone in the opposite sense.

FIG. 3 shows a variant whereby teeth 5 are fixed to support 6 extendingparallel under series of teeth 5 by a series of connecting parts 18.Connecting parts 18 preferably comprise a strip of unbendable material.

Also according to FIG. 3, second element 7 is made as a continuous wholeof a flexible material, whereby multiple thin sections 19 function ashinges.

Naturally, fastener 1 of FIG. 3 may be made of any elastic materialwhatsoever, but it is clear that materials such as rubbers and plasticsare particularly suitable.

The working of the fastener according to FIG. 3 is analogous to that ofFIG. 1. In the case where a relatively rigid plastic is used, the endlocking mechanism may be omitted because an inherent elastic forceautomatically ensures that second element 7 extends and that hooks 8remain between teeth 5.

As represented in FIG. 3, second element 7 may be provided with a seriesof notches 20 on the top side. Notches 20 offer the advantage that thelines of force which are created as a tensile force exerted in thelongitudinal direction, are situated lower so that large moments offorce are excluded. As a result, the fastener no longer tends toautomatically roll down when such tensile forces are exerted.

Notches 20 also offer the advantage that second element 7, when it ismade in a die-casting mold, may be easily removed from the mold. Anotheradvantage is that, as far as appearances are concerned, the length ofsecond element 7 is broken.

As represented, notches 20 are provided right between successivesections 19. This offers the advantage that sections 19, which are thinas such, are not weakened. Notches 20 preferably extend over entirewidth B.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention with a minimum number ofhooks 8. Two hooks 8 used hereby form a lock whereby a second hook locksa first hook. First element 4, however, has several teeth 5.

In this way, the fastener according to the invention may be usedanywhere as a disengageable connection which may assume variablepositions and which may be loaded in any direction by tension, pressureor shear.

It is clear that the invention is by no means limited to theabove-described embodiments represented in the accompanying drawings; onthe contrary, a fastener according to the invention may be made invarious forms and dimensions while still remaining within the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:
 1. A fastener for connecting two parts, comprising:a firstelement including at least two transverse teeth consecutively disposedin a longitudinal direction of said first element; a second elementincluding at least two transverse hooks consecutively disposed in alongitudinal direction of said second element, said transverse hooksbeing connected to each other and movable in a limited arcuate motionrelative to each other in said longitudinal direction of said secondelement; and wherein said transverse hooks and transverse teeth areformed such that, upon longitudinal alignment of said first and secondelements, said limited arcuate motion of said transverse hooks relativeto each other freely and consecutively meshes said transverse hooks withsaid transverse teeth in a first direction to close said fastenerwithout any substantial snap-effect and freely and consecutivelyunmeshes said transverse hooks from said transverse teeth in an oppositedirection to open said fastener without any substantial snap-effect. 2.The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said hooks are made such thatsaid two consecutive hooks enclose one of said teeth therebetween overmore than 180° when said fastener is closed.
 3. The fastener accordingto claim 1, wherein said teeth comprise a series of spaced transverserods.
 4. The fastener according to claim 3, wherein said rods extendparallel to one another and have a circular cross-section.
 5. Thefastener according to claim 1, wherein said first element comprises asupport having two strip-shaped parts between which said teeth aresituated.
 6. The fastener according to claim 5, wherein said supportextends from one strip-shaped part to the other on one side of saidteeth.
 7. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said second elementcomprises a series of links linked to one another in said longitudinaldirection of said second element, each of said links being provided withone of said hooks.
 8. The fastener according to claim 7, wherein saidlinks are linked to one another by pivoting hinges.
 9. The fasteneraccording to claim 1, wherein said second element comprises a continuouswhole of a flexible material having thin sections which function ashinges.
 10. The fastener according to claim 9, further comprising aseries of notches provided on a top side of said second element.
 11. Thefastener according to claim 1, wherein said teeth define a series ofopenings between said teeth and said hooks fit precisely therein. 12.The fastener according to claim 1, wherein at least said first elementis kept in a substantially rigid condition.
 13. The fastener accordingto claim 1, wherein at least said first element is substantially rigid.14. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said second elementincludes a free end, said fastener only being openable by said limitedarcuate motion of said transverse hooks relative to each other beginningfrom said free end of said second element.